The Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey team and Kent Chamber of Commerce are among the groups that will receive grants from the city of Kent’s lodging tax fund.<\/p>\n
This is the first year the city has awarded grants since Kent leaders cancelled and reduced funds in May 2020 after the pandemic struck. When people stopped staying in local hotels because of COVID-19, lodging tax revenue practically disappeared.<\/p>\n
The revenue is starting to return. But city leaders decided to use $200,000 of American Rescue Act federal funds awarded to Kent to pay for this year’s grants to promote tourism and business in town.<\/p>\n
“We stopped grants due to the pandemic,” said Michelle Wilmot, city Economic and Community Development manager, in a May 9 report to a City Council committee. “Without overnight stays, there has not been revenue for the grant program. …But with federal funds, we have smaller grants for this year.”<\/p>\n
The city’s lodging tax fund is from a 1% state tax on overnight hotel, motel and bed and breakfast stays in Kent. State law dictates who is eligible to apply, and mandates the funds be used for marketing and promotion of business and leisure tourism.<\/p>\n
The city of Kent’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommends grants to the council. The committee includes representatives from the city, Kent Chamber, Kent Downtown Partnership, ShoWare Center and the hotel industry.<\/p>\n
In November 2019, the council approved $330,000 in grants for 2020 to nine groups, but with the drop in lodging tax revenue the city was unable to fund all of those programs and some events were canceled.<\/p>\n
The council’s Economic and Community Development Committee voted 3-0 to approve the recommendations about how to spend the $200,000. That recommendation goes to the full seven-member council for approval.<\/p>\n
The Seattle Thunderbirds, a Western Hockey League team that plays at the city-owned accesso ShoWare Center, will receive $60,000, the largest of the seven grants awarded.<\/p>\n
“The Thunderbirds have long been a recipient of lodging grant tax funds because of the large amount of people they bring to the community and the overnight stays they bring,” Wilmot said.<\/p>\n